Magazines want a story when it is lively, unusual, informative, educational or entertaining and follows the format that the publication uses and the public reads. Before you are interviewed for a print publication, do some advance preparation.
Here are five top tips I can share on what will make your interview outstanding and contribute to a great article.
1. Take responsibility for giving a great media interview. Know exactly what you would like to get across to the reader. Practice steering your interview back to your central topic with bridging statements. Bridging statements are used during the interview when you sense that a reporter is veering off course from your chosen message. Examples of bridging statements are, I think your readers would be interested to know, that reminds me of a similar issue, let me just add that, I think you'll agree, another relevant point is, you are correct in that, but I think I'd add.
2. Send the interviewer advance information. Include background information on you and your topic. If you know something particularly interesting about the subject, share it in your notes.
3. Be interesting. Use colorful, lively and descriptive wording. Think about the central theme of your article and craft one or two quotes that you can weave into the interview. If you don't know how to be interesting, study how other people provide great interviews. Start a clip file and review it often. Think about your work or the information you want to share with the media. What comments could you make that are a lively take on the issues? What unusual or informative perspective can you share? What stories, incidents or statistics back up your news?
